Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People

Transcription

1 Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Community Care 2009

2 ISBN: Commonwealth of Australia 2009 This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires the written permission of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC). ACSQHC was established in January 2006 by the Australian health ministers to lead and coordinate improvements in safety and quality in Australian health care. Copies of this document and further information on the work of ACSQHC can be found at or from the Office of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care on telephone: or to: Other resources available from Guidebook to Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Community Care 2009 Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals 2009 Guidebook to Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals 2009 Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities 2009 Guidebook to Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities 2009 Implementation Guide for Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals and Residential Aged Care Facilities 2009 Fact sheets Falls facts for patients and carers Falls facts for doctors Falls facts for nurses Falls facts for allied health professionals Falls facts for support staff (cleaners, food service and transport staff) Falls facts for health managers

3 Statement from the chief executive Australians today enjoy a longer life expectancy than previous generations, but for some this is disrupted by falls. As we age, our sure-footedness declines and, at the same time, our bones become increasingly brittle. The comment that he fell and broke his hip is heard all too often in fact, almost one in three older Australians will suffer a fall each year. Such falls can have extremely serious consequences, including significant disability and even death. Falls are one of the largest causes of harm in care. Preventing falls and minimising their harmful effects are critical. During care episodes, older people are usually going through a period of intercurrent illness, with the resultant frailty and the uncertainty that brings. They are at their most vulnerable, often in unfamiliar settings, and accordingly attention has been paid to acquiring evidence about what can be done to minimise the occurrence of falls and their harmful effects, and to use these data in the national Falls Guidelines. These new guidelines consider the evidence and recommend actions in the three main care settings: the community, hospitals and residential aged care facilities. Each of three separate volumes addresses one of these care settings, providing guidance on managing the various risk factors that make older Australians in care vulnerable to falling. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is charged with leading and coordinating improvements in the safety and quality of health care for all Australians. These new guidelines are an important part of that work. The ongoing commitment of staff in community, hospital and residential aged care settings is critical in falls prevention. I commend these guidelines to you. Professor Chris Baggoley Chief Executive Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care August 2009

4 iv Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People

5 Contents Statement from the chief executive Acronyms and abbreviations Preface Acknowledgments Summary of recommendations and good practice points Page iii xiii xv xvii xix Part A Introduction 1 1 Background About the guidelines Scope of the guidelines Targeting older Australians Specific to the Australian community Relevant to all members of the health care team Terminology Definition of a fall Definition of an injurious fall Definition of assessment and risk assessment Definition of interventions Definition of evidence Development of the guidelines Expert advisory group Review methods Levels of evidence Consultation Governance of the review of the Australian Falls Guidelines How to use the guidelines Overview How the guidelines are presented 10 2 Falls and falls injuries in Australia Incidence of falls Location of falls Consequences of falls Cost of falls Economic considerations in falls prevention programs Risk factors for falling 16 3 Involving older people in falls prevention 17 v

15 Preface Falls are a significant cause of harm to older people. The rate, intensity and cost of falls identify them as a national safety and quality issue. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) is charged with leading and coordinating improvements in the safety and quality of health care nationally, and has consequently produced these guidelines on preventing falls and harm from falls in older people. Health care services are provided in a range of settings. Therefore, ACSQHC has developed three separate falls prevention guidelines that address the three main care settings: the community, hospitals and residential aged care facilities. Although there are common elements across the three guidelines, some information and recommendations are specific to each setting. Collectively, the guidelines are referred to as the Falls Guidelines. This new document, Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Community Care 2009, aims to reduce the number of falls and the harm from falls experienced by older people in the community. The guidelines and support materials are suitable for use by health professionals for individuals and community groups that: do not have a falls prevention program or plan in place have recently initiated a falls prevention program or plan have a successful falls prevention program or plan in place. Older people themselves are at the centre of the guidelines. Their participation, to the full extent of their desire and ability, encourages shared responsibility in health care, promotes quality care and focuses accountability. The guidelines are written to promote independence and rehabilitation. Living in the community involves some risk for many older people. The guidelines do not promote an entirely risk-averse approach to the health care of older people. Some falls are preventable, some are not preventable. However, an excessively custodial and risk-averse approach designed to avoid complaints or litigation from at-risk older people and their carers may infringe on the older person s autonomy and limit rehabilitation. Whenever possible, these guidelines are based on research evidence and are written to supplement the clinical knowledge, competence and experience applied by health professionals. However, as with all guidelines, and the principles of evidence based practice, their application is intended to be in the context of professional judgment, clinical knowledge, competence and experience of health professionals. The guidelines also acknowledge that the clinical judgment of informed professionals is best practice in the absence of good-quality published evidence. Some flexibility may also therefore be required to adapt these guidelines to specific settings, local circumstances, and to older people s needs, circumstances and wishes. The following additional materials have been prepared to accompany the guidelines: Guidebook for Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Australian Community Care A Short Version of Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Community Care 2009 Falls Guidelines fact sheets. The two other guidelines for hospitals and residential aged care facilities are the result of a review and rewrite of the first edition of the guidelines, Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls in Older People Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals and Residential Aged Care Facilities 2005, 1 which were developed by the former Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care. xv

16 Key messages of the guidelines Many falls can be prevented. Fall and injury prevention needs to be addressed at the point of care and from a multidisciplinary perspective. Managing many of the risk factors for falls (eg delirium or balance problems) will have wider benefits beyond falls prevention. Engaging older people themselves is an integral part of preventing falls and minimising harm from falls. Best practice in fall and injury prevention includes implementing falls prevention strategies, or identifying falls risk and implementing targeted individualised strategies that are resourced adequately, and monitored and reviewed regularly. Multifactorial interventions (ie a combination of interventions tailored to the individual) are effective for reducing the rate of falls in the community setting. In the community setting, some single interventions (eg certain exercise programs and home safety programs in high-risk subgroups, and vitamin D with calcium supplementation for older people with low blood levels) can reduce falls and the number of fallers. The consequences of falls resulting in minor or no injury are often neglected. Factors such as fear of falling and reduced activity level can profoundly affect function and quality of life, and increase the risk of seriously harmful falls. At a strategic level, there will be a time lag between investment in a falls prevention program and improvements in outcome measures. xvi Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People

17 Acknowledgments The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) acknowledges the authors, reviewers and editors who undertook the work of reviewing, restructuring and writing the guidelines. ACSQHC acknowledges the significant contribution of the Falls Guidelines Review Expert Advisory Group for their time and expertise in the development of the Falls Guidelines ACSQHC also acknowledges the contribution of many health professionals who participated in focus groups, and provided comment and other support to the project. In particular, the National Injury Prevention Working Group, a network of jurisdictional policy staff, played a significant role communicating the review to colleagues and providing advice. The guidelines build on earlier work by the former Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care and by Queensland Health. The contributions of the national and international external quality reviewers and the Office of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care are also acknowledged. ACSQHC funded the preparation of these guidelines. Members of the Falls Guidelines Review Expert Advisory Group have no financial conflict of interest in the recommendations in the guidelines. A full list of authors, reviewers and contributors is provided in Appendix 1. ACSQHC gratefully acknowledges the kind permission of St Vincent s and Mater Health Sydney to reproduce many of the images in the guidelines. xvii

19 Summary of recommendations and good practice points This section contains a summary of the guideline s recommendations and good practice points. These are also presented at the start of each chapter, with accompanying references and explanations. Part B Chapter 4 Standard falls prevention strategies Falls prevention interventions Recommendations Intervention Use effective interventions to reduce falls in the community, for example certain exercise programs, assessment followed by multifactorial treatment, home safety interventions in high-risk groups, and academic detailing for general practitioners by a pharmacist. (Level I) 7 Single interventions Older people should be encouraged to exercise to prevent falls. Certain programs have been shown to be effective and largely focus on balance training. (Level I) 7,40 Older people with visual impairment primarily related to cataracts should undergo cataract surgery as soon as practicable. (Level II) 41,42 When conducted as a single intervention, home environment interventions are effective for reducing falls in high-risk older people. (Level I) 43 For individual older people, gradual and supervised withdrawal of psychoactive medications should be considered to prevent falls. (Level II) 44 People with severe visual impairment should receive a home safety assessment and modification program specifically designed to prevent falls. (Level II) 45,46 Use cardiac pacing in older people who live in the community, and who have carotid sinus hypersensitivity and a history of syncope or falls, to reduce the rate of falls. (Level II) 47 Collaborative review and modification of medication by general practitioners and pharmacists, in conjunction with individual patients, is recommended to prevent falls. (Level II) 48 Vitamin D and calcium supplementation should be recommended as an intervention strategy to prevent falls in older people who live in the community, particularly if they are not exposed to the minimum recommended levels of sunlight. Benefits from supplementation are most likely to be seen in people who have vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D <50 nmol/l) or deficiency (25(OH)D <25 nmol/l). (Level I) 7 (Level I-*) 49 Multiple interventions The combination of exercise targeting strength and balance, education and home safety intervention (the Stepping On Program) is recommended to reduce the rate of falls in older people who live in the community. (Level I) 43 Multifactorial interventions In older people at risk of falls, individualised assessment leading directly to tailored interventions is recommended. (Level I) 7 xix

20 Good practice points The general practitioner can prescribe verbal or written instructions for falls prevention interventions (eg exercise programs) for the older person to improve or maintain independence, and encourage adherence. Managing many of the risk factors for falls (eg balance problems, medication) will have wider benefits beyond falls prevention. Part C Chapter 5 Management strategies for common falls risk factors Falls risk screening and assessment Recommendations Screening and assessment Older people should be asked about falls at least once every year by their general practitioner or other health care provider. Older people with a history of one or more falls in the past year should be assessed using a simple, validated balance test or falls risk screen. Older people who perform poorly on a simple test of balance or gait, or on a falls risk screening tool, should undergo a detailed assessment to identify contributory risk factors. Falls risk screening and assessment tools used should be evidence based (meaning that they have demonstrated good predictive accuracy, and have been evaluated in the relevant setting in more than one site). Falls prevention interventions may need to be modified to make sure they are suitable for the individual, and often the carer(s) and family members will also play important roles in implementing falls prevention actions. Good practice points Falls risk screening Falls risk screening should be used to guide more detailed assessment and intervention, and the outcomes of the screen should be documented and discussed with the older person and their carer(s). When the threshold score of a screening tool is exceeded, a falls risk assessment should be conducted as soon as practicable. If the score is not exceeded, standard falls prevention strategies apply. Falls risk assessment To develop an individualised plan for preventing falls, health care professionals need to identify systematically and comprehensively the factors contributing to the older person s increased risk of falling. Interventions delivered as a result of the assessment provide benefit rather than the assessment itself; therefore, it is essential that interventions systematically address the risk factors identified. Identifying the presence of cognitive impairment should form part of the falls risk assessment process. xx Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People

21 Chapter 6 Balance and mobility limitations Recommendations Assessment Use assessment tools to: quantify the extent of balance and mobility limitations and muscle weaknesses guide exercise prescription measure improvements in balance, mobility and strength assess whether the older person has a high risk of falling. Intervention Deliver exercise programs to prevent falls in older people who live in the community (eg group exercise classes, strength and balance retraining at home, tai chi classes). (Level I) 7 Improve the effectiveness of exercise programs for preventing falls by including challenging balance training and frequent exercise. (Level I) 7,40 Encourage exercise for falls prevention in all older people in the community, not only those who have an increased risk. (Level I) 7,40 Chapter 7 Cognitive impairment Recommendations Assessment Older people with cognitive impairment have an increased risk of falls and should have their falls risk factors assessed. Intervention Identified falls risk factors should be addressed as part of a multifactorial falls prevention program, and strategies to minimise injuries (such as using hip protectors or vitamin D and calcium supplementation) should be considered. (Level I-*) 49 Note: there is no evidence that falls can be reduced in older people with cognitive impairment living in the community. 7 See the residential aged care facilities guidelines for further information on providing treatment to older people with cognitive impairment. Good practice points Older people presenting with an acute change in cognitive function should be assessed for delirium and the underlying cause of this change. Older people with gradual onset, progressive cognitive impairment should undergo detailed assessment to determine diagnosis, and where possible, reversible causes of the cognitive decline. Reversible causes of acute or progressive cognitive decline should be addressed and treated. If an older person with cognitive impairment does fall, reassess their cognitive status, including presence of delirium (eg using the Confusion Assessment Method tool). Interventions shown to work in cognitively intact populations should not be withheld from cognitively impaired populations; however, interventions for older people with cognitive impairment may need to be modified and supervised, as appropriate. Summary of recommendations and good practice points xxi

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